Spindle



`Nov. 11, 192% F. E. MUELLER SPINDLE Original Filed July 24. 1920 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 11,1924.A

' -fUNriEo STATES V FREDERICK E. MUELLER, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 NORMA- HOFFMAN BEARINGS CORPORATION, OF'LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A COR- PORATION F NEW'YORK.

SPINDLE.

. appiiuonvaiea :ply 24, 1920, serial no. 398,779. Renewed August 4,1922. serial no. 579,741.

To all wlw/m t may comer/n: e

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have linventedy certain new and useful Improvevments in Spindles, of' which the following is a description. d f This invention relates to spindles, and more particularly lto textile spindles, such as are commonly used on silk and cotton lspinningr machines.

- It is the primary object of my present invention to providel a spindle for the aboveI .15 purpose, which is permanently mounted upon the supporting rail, and is equipped with anti-friction bearings, said`I spindle in'- cluding a base or supporting section, and a spindle proper removable from its operative 'position with respect tothe base section of ,thel spindle without disturbing" the anti-fric tion bearings. i

vThe invention also has'for a further object to provide a simple and eiiicient means. for

4.zautomaticallv lubricating the lspaced anti- Afriction bearings ofthe spindle.

More particularly v the invention consists in the provision of a rotatable sleeve mounted.

upon the stationary/'base section of the spin- 39 dle, upper and lower sets of ball bearings interposed between the wall of the sleeve andV said spindle section, and a spindle proper, having a tubular whorl fixed to its lower end.

v and adapted for detachable frictional en-jj gae'ement upon said sleeve.

The present improvement further comprehends a simple and :reliable means for automaticallv adjusting the upper and lower sets of ball bearings to thereby compensate 40. for wearr of the parts.`

In general. the invention provides a spindleconstruction havinr avery simple mounting and arrangement of the bearings therein.

' enabling thespindleto be operated at relativelv high speeds.. andl without liabilitv of the device getting out vof order, orrequiring fren'uent adjustment and repair.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improvedvform.

construction and arrangement4 of the rela-.

tive parts as will be hereinafter incre fully described, illustrated in the accompanying bodiments of the invention, vin which similar reference characters ldesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

i Figure 1 is an elevation of'one embodiment of my improved spindle.

Figure 2J. is a vertical sectional view through the supporting bolster for the lower spindle section andthe rotatably mounted sleeve arranged on said spindle section.

'Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through `the spindle whorl.

Figure 4 is a plan view of one o f the annular holdingmembers for the lubricant absorbing wick.

Figure 5 is a sectional View thereof.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

' Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through the assembled spindle, illustrating a slightly modified,v construction. i d.

Figures 8 and 9 are plan and edge views respectively of one form of spring washer for automatically adjusting the anti-friction bearings.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section through the u ppei end of the spindle sleeve showing the assembly ofthe bearing adjusting washer therein.

Figure 11- is a similar view showing a slight modification of the adjusting means for the bearings', and,

Figure 12 1s a fragmentarv section through the lower end` of the spindle sleeve, showing the spring washer of Figure 8.

coacting with thelower bearing.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and

more particularly to Figures 1 to 6 thereof, 5 1

vided at the upper end of the-shank 5 with an oil-receiving chamber or reservoir 6, having a vfeed duct l7 jecting arm 9. .l d

leading to a lubricant receiving cavity 8, formed the laterally pro- S waaier The lower end of the shank is threaded to hold the same against a longitudinal shiftv receive the nut engaging the lower end of ing movement, so as to prevent engagement the spring 11, Surrounding the bolster shank. of the ends of the wick with the parts of This spring at its upper end bears against the anti-friction bearings, while the body 5 the felt washer 12, which is adapted to enportions 'of said rings prevent shifting 70 gage the inner side of the supporting rail. movement of the fiber sheet 27. It will thus be understood that by the ad- The lower end portion of the sleeve 16 is justment of the nut 10, the tension of the submerged in the lubricant contained in the spring 11 may be regulated. This bolster reservoir 6, and below the bearing 18 said 10 mounting is well known in the art, and consleeve is provided with an upwardly and 7* stitutes no part of the present invention. outwardly inclined internal annular sur- The' shank 5 is provided with an axial face 30. Said lower end of the sleeve 16 is bore to receive the lower end portion of the also provided with an upwardly and instationary base section 13 of the spindle, wardly inclined external annular surface 31.

15 said spindle section being formed with an The purposesubserved by the provision of annular shoulder 14 engaging the base of these annular surfaces on the lower end ot the lubricant chamber 6. The lower end of the spindle sleeve will be subsequently eX- the spindle section 13 is threaded to replained in detail. ceive a nut 15, which is adjusted against the The spindle proper, indicated at'32, has a end of the shank 5 to thereby rigidly secure tubular whorl 33 secured in any preferred 85 the spindle section in the bolster. manner to its lower end. The lower end A rotatable sleeve 16 surrounds the upof said whorl is open, and is formed with per portion of the spindle section 13, and upan outwardly projecting 'annular fiange per and lower sets of ball bearings 17 and 34. The wall of the whorl 33 is longitudi- 18 respectively are interposed between the nally split, as at 35, from its lower open 90 wall of this sleeve and the spindle section. end to a point approximately midway of its These ball bearings may be of any convenlength. This split section of the whorl pertional type, but in Figure 2 of the drawings mits of a slight yielding of the tubular wall have shown an open type of bearing in as the whorl is inserted over the sleeve 16 and which the inner and outer race rings 19 moved downwardly thereon to the position and 20 respectively are separable from each seen in Figure 1, so that the whorl will have other, said rings having suitably formed the necessary frictional contact with the pe races to receive the antiefriction balls. The riphery of the sleeve to insure the rotation innerring 19 of the lower bearing 18 rests of the sleeve and the whorl as a unit. lt

upon the shoulder 1.4: on the spindle section, will be understood that these contacting surand a spacing sleeve 21 surroundsI the upper faces are very accurately machined, so that portion of the spindle section between the the spindle proper 32, will be axially aligned inner rings of the two bearings. The outer with the lower spindle section 13 when the race ring 20 of the lower bearing is seated parts of the spindle 'are assembled. Howu upon an internal annular shoulder 22 on ever, it is to be understood that in lieu of the 10" the sleeve 16. A nut 23, threaded on the longitudinally split whorl, various other upper end of the spindle section, engages the means might be adopted for detachably coninner ring 19 of the upper bearing, and an necting the whorl and sleeve for unitary roadjusting nut 24, threaded in the upper end tation, and in Figure 7, to be later referred 25 of the sleeve 16, engages the outer race ring to, I have indicated one such alternative eonof said bearing. This adjusting nut has a struction. split portion, and by the adjustment of the The whorl 33 is locked in its applied posiscrew 25 connecting said split portions, the tion by means of the latch plate 36. which is nut may be securely locked in its adjusted pivoted. as at 3'?, upon the arm 9, and is position within the sleeve 16. adapted to be moved to the position seen in l An absorbent tubular wick 26, preferably Figure 1, to close. the cavity 8, and in which of felt, surrounds the spacing sleeve 21, and position one end of said latch plate projects is slightly spaced therefrom. A tubular over the flange 34 on the spindle whorl, thus fiber sheet 27 is frictionally engaged with the preventing the upward vertical movement inner surface of the sleeve 16, and surrounds of the whorl with respect to the sleeve 16. the wick 26. Between the ends of the tubular In the construction illust-rated in the drawfiber sheet and the outer race rings 20 oi ing the spindle is rotated by the tangential the spaced bearings, the metal rings 28 are contact of the driving belt with the peripharranged, each of said rings being provided ery of the whorl 33. However, the present wlth a plurality of spaced inwardly proinvention is not necessarily limited to a jecting radial tongues 29, which are obliquely whorl of' theparticular form herein shown inclined at an acute angle with respect to and if desired, the conventional type of the r1ng,asclearly shown-in Figure 2. These whorl having an annular groove in and tongues 29 of the respective rings 28 engage around which the belt extends through sub- 5 the opposite ends of the tubular wick 26, and stantially 180", may be employed,

lillt lll ' lthe spindle, the oil held or conlined by y. the wick is thrown outwardly by centrifugal Inthe operation of the improved spindlev bytheinclinedsiirface 30 on lthe lower end 'ofthe sleeve 16, owing-to ,the centrifugal force thus induced, and upon the parts lof the'lower bearing 18. iThe oil passing 'upwardly through the bearing is absorbed by the wick 26,Vv which nally becomes satay rated, so that this wick practically subserves the purpose of a lsupplen'ientary reservoir to hold 'a certain amount of the lubricant.` In the continued rotation of force against the inner surface of the tubular fiber sheet 27, and there findingvthe limit of its outward movement, is directed upwardly and downwardly by the surface of the liber sheet through the wick hold- 'ing or retaining Irings 28, and into the bearing raceways. This automatic distribution of 'the 'lubricant from thesaturated wick 26 continuoiisly supplies an adequate amount of the lubricant to the spaced bearings to insure their proper frictionless operation for an indefinite period. However, if at any time it 'is desirable to further lubricate the bearings, oil may be supplied throughthe opening; l38 formed in the adjusting nut 24. Such additional supply of lubricant will be only very rarely necessary. The external annular inclined surface 31 on the lower end of the sleeve 16 servesto preventthe lubricating oil 4from traveling upwardly upon the louter surface of the"`sleeve.v

In Figure 7 of the drawings Iphave illustrated a slightly modified form of the improved spindle, wherein the same bearing assembly as I have above described is provided, but in this construction the closed. non-separable type of ball bearing is il;

' lustrated. However, in this embodimcntof the .invention the sleeve 16 has an upwardly taperingi external surface 16a, while the tubulaiwhorl 33 has a correspondingly tapered internal surface 33, to frictionally coaet with the surface of said sleeve. Thus,

' when the removable whorl and upper spindle section are arranged in place, the requisite j frictional coaction between the walls of the sleeve and the whorl is obtained, and the upper and lowerspindle sections are automatically aligned.

In Figure 10 of the drawings I have shown i an automatic adjusting' means for the bearingr assembly, wherein a washer plate 39 of.

resilient sheet metal, is provided with spaced circumferentially extending spring tongues 40.- This washer plate. is arranged in the upper end of the sleeve 16, with the spring tongues 40 bearing upon the outer race ring` 20 of the bearing. The sleeve 16 is provided with any internal annular groove 41 vto recel-ve a split resilient vring 42, wliichserves ,j to retainthe-wa-shcr plate 3S) within'tlie sleeve, and to maintain the spring tongues@ under tension. It will-thus be apparent that the bearings are automatically adjusted to compensatev for such wear as may occur, and thereby insure the smooth and noiseless,

.running ofthe spindle.

l IiipFigure 11 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of this automatic adjustingmeans for the bearing, wherein a -metal vwasher latefl-l is'enfraoed u on the. outer race ring', and `is positively urged against said ring' by vtheusplit claiiiping ring 44. This ring has an inclined annular-face 45 to coact with the'inclined upper surface 47 of In Figure 12 of the drawings I have illusv trated the sameiform. of bea-ring adjusting `washeras is shown in Figure 8, applied to they lower bearing assembly in the sleeve 16,

` wherein it will be observed that the adjusting: washer is interposed between the shoulder 22 on the lower end lof the sleeve and the outer ring 20 of the bearing.

Fromthe i foregoingv description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of the` il` lustrated embodiments o the 'invention will be fully understood.

In the various types 'of spindles now Iknown inthe art, the means for mounting the vspindle on the supporting rail is relatively complex, and the spindle cannot be removed from the rail without considerable diiiiculty and loss of time. For various 1'ea sonsit is occasionally necessary to detach or remove the spindle from ythe rail, and by means of my improved construction, wherein the spindle consists ofthe two separable or disconneetible parts,this removal'of the thread or yarn carrying spindle may be very easily-and quickly effected. Thus the lower or base section of the spindle is lpermanently attached to the spindle frame, and the u-pper spindle section 32, together with the whorl 33, may be readily lifted and detached from connection with this lower spindle section by simply swinging the latch `plate 36 to its open position, and without1 coaxial operative relation toeach other by simply reversing the manual action above described, and permitting the tubular whorl to drop downwardly around and upon the sleeve 16. By then moving the latch plate 36 to the position seen in Figurev 1, the two spindle sections are locked together for proper operation. l p

ln the foregoing description, and the accompanying drawings I have disclosed several very satisfactory embodiments. of the invention, but it will, nevertheless, be understood that in practicel the new spindle construction is susceptible Aof still further alternativeconstructions, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimatechanges and modifications as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

lf claim: l. lln a textile spindle, a fixed base spindie, a-sleeve rotatably mounted upon said base spindle and a live spindle having a tubularwhorl adapted to be fitted over said sleeve, and the wall of the whorl being longitudinally splitlto exert a frictional clamping pressure upon the periphery of the sleeve to thereby detachably retain the live spindle in coaxial relation with the base spindle.

2. In a textile spindle, a xed base spindie, a Sleeve rotatably supported upon the base spindle, a live spindle having a tubular whorl adapted to be fitted over said'sleeve and said whorl .being provided with radially yieldable portions for frictionally clamping engagement upon the periphery of the sleeve to detachably retain the live spindle in coaxial relation with the base spindle.

. 3. lin a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, spaced bearings interposed between said fixed and rotatable parts, lubricant receiving means carried by said rotatable part, Vand from which the lubricant is thrown by lcentrifugal force, and additional meansfor directing such lubricant to the spaced bearings.

4. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said fixed part, anti-frictionbearings arranged between the opposite ends of the fixed part and said sleeve, means disposed within said sleeve,iand rotatable therewith to .hold a lubricant, and from which the lubricant is thrown by centrifugal force, and additional impact receiving means wlthin the sleeve to distribute the lubricant upon the parts of the spaced bearings.

5.`ln a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, an antifriction bearing interposed between said fixed and rotatable parts, lubricant receiving means carried by said rotatable part,

and from which the lubricant is thrown by posite ends of the fixed nemici centrifugal force, and additional means for directing such 'lubricant upon the parts of the anti-friction bearing.

6. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said fixed part, anti-` f'riction bearings arranged between the opposite ends of the fixed part, and said sleeve, and a tubularlubricant absorbing wick disposed within said sleeve and rotatable therewith to distribute the lubricant by the action of centrifugal force upon the parts of the spaced bearings. v

7. In a spindle, ay fixed art, a rotatable sleeve surrounding said xed part, antifriction bearings arranged between the opart and said sleeve, a tubular lubricant absorbing wick disposed within said sleeve and rotatable therewith to distribute the lubricant by the action of centrifugal force upon the parts of the spaced bearings, and means arran ed within said sleeve to hold the tubu ar wick against longitudinal shifting movement and out of contact with the anti-friction bearings.

` 8. 'In a spindle, a xed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, spaced anti-friction bearings interposed between said fixed and rotatable parts, a lubricant reservoir, lubricant receiving means carried by said rotatable part, means on said rotatable part for directing lubricant from said reservoir tosaid receivin means, and additional means for directing lubricant discharged from the receiving means by centrifugal force upon the parts of the spaced Y bearings. v p v 9. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, spaced anti-friction bearings interposed between said fixed andV rotatable arts, a lubricant reservoir, lubricant receiving means carried by said rotatable part, means on said rotatable part for directing lubricant from said reservoir to said receiving means, and additional means surrounding said lubricant receiving means and against which the lubricant is thrown from the receiving means by centrifugal force land whereby such lubricant is directed upon the parts of the spaced bearings.

10. ln a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, spaced anti-friction bearings interposedbetween said fixed and rotatable "parts, a lubricant reservoir, a tubular absorbent wick arranged within said rotatable part for rotation therewith, means on the rotatable part to direct the lubricant from the reservoir to said wiclnand a tubular sheet of non-absorbent material surrounding` said wick to receive the impact of the lubricant thrown from the wick by the action of centrifugal force, whereby said lubricant is directed upon the parts ofv the spaced bearings.

11. In a spindle, a fixed part, a sleeve mounted upon said fixed part, anti-friction bearings interposed between the upper and lower ends of said sleeve and the fixed part, a tubular lubricant absorbing wick arranged within said sleeve and rotatable therewith, and a tubular sheet of non-absorbent material interposed between the wick and the Wall of said sleeve to receive the impact of lubricant thrown from the wick by the action of centrifugal force and direct such lubricant on the parts of the spaced bearings.

12. In a spindle, la fixed part, a sleeve mounted upon said fixed part, anti-friction bearings interposedbetween the upper and lower ends of said sleeve and the fixed part, a tubular lubricant absorbing wick arranged within said Sleeve and rotatable therewith, a tubular sheet of non-absorbent material interposed between the wick and the wall of said sleeve to receive the impact of lubricant thrown from the wick by the action of centrifugal force and direct such lubricant upon the parts of the spaced bearings, and means arranged within the sleeve and coacting with the ends of thewick and the non-absorbent material to prevent longitudinal shifting movement thereof relative to the sleeve.

1 3. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part surrounding the fixed part, and spaced therefrom, anti-friction bearings arranged between the opposite ends of said rotatable part and the fixed part, and parts for distributing lubricant between` and upon the parts of said spaced bearings formed by the rotatable part itself.

14. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, an antifriction bearing interposed between the fixed and rotatable parts, and means carried yby said rotatable part for automatically maintaining the parts of said bearing in proper adjustment.

15. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable sleeve supported by said fixed part, an antifriction bearing interposed between the fixed part and the rotatable sleeve, and means arranged'within the sleeve and rotatable therewith, resiliently coacting with the bearing to automatically maintain the bearing parts in proper adjustment.

16. Inca spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable sleeve supported by said fixed part, antifriction beari'ngs arranged between the upper and lower ends of the sleeve and said fixed part, and resilient means mounted within one end of the sleeve, and coacting with one of said bearings to automatically compensate for wear and maintain the bearing assembly in proper adjustment.

17. In a textile spindle, a fixed base spindle, a whorl having a live spindle, and means rotatably supporting the. whorl u on said base spindle comprising spaced ballearings each having inner and outer race rrin s, said base spindle provided with a shoul er engaged by the i'nner race ring of one bearing, a spacino' sleeve extending between said race ring and the inner race ring ofthe other bearing, and a nut threaded upon the base spindle and engaging the latter bearing ring and coacting therewith to rigidly fix the inner race rings of the spaced bearings i'n fixed positions relative to said base spindle.

18. In a spindle, .a fixed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, bearings interposed between opposite ends of said rotatable part and the fixed part, and lubricant distributing means for said bearings including a part common to both bearings fordirecting the lubricant thereto.

19. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part supported by said fixed part, bearings interposed between opposite ends of said rotatable part and the fixed part, and lubricant distributing means carr'ed by the rotatable part and including a part common to both bearings for directing the lubricant thereto.

20. In a textile spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable sleeve, anti-friction bearings arranged within opposite ends o f the sleeve, each of said bearings including an outer race `ring engaged with the sleeve wall, an inner race ring mounted on said fixed part, and anti-friction members interposed between said race rings, means engaged upon said fixed part to retain the inner race rings of said bearings in properly spaced relation, and a whorl having a live spindle adapted to be detachably engaged upon said sleeve.

21. In a textile spindle, a fixed part, arotatable sleeve, anti-friction bearings arranged within opposite ends of the sleeve,

leach of said bearings including an outer race ringv engaged with the sleeve wall, an inner race ring mounted on said fixed part, and anti-friction members interposed -between said race rings, means engaged upon said fixed partto retain the inner race rings of said bearings in properly spaced relation, means detachably engaged in the upper end of said sleeve and positioned over the space between the inner and outer rings of the bearings arranged therein, and a whorl having a live spindle adapted to be detachably engaged upon said sleeve.

22. In a spindle, a fixed part, a rotatable part surrounding said fixed part, and spaced therefrom, anti-friction bearings arranged between the opposite ends of said rotatable part and the fixed part, and washer plates of resilient sheet metal providedv with spaced circumferentially extending spring tongues.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereunder.

FREDERICK E. MUELLER. 

